The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-11
A. T. Stewards Body.
now 1T WAS RECOVERED rRoM THOSE
WHO STOLE 1T.

hVW u WAS htCONEhb VkOM TuObE
WHO STOLE 1T.
The mystery which has 80 long en-
veloped the fate of the body of the
millionaire dry goods dealer, Alexand-
er 4. Stewart, forss the subject of a
chapter in Superintendent George w.
Wallpgs book, "The Recollections of
q New York Chief of Police," which ia
soon to he pnblished. The ex-Super-
intendsnt processes to give the only
true STORY Of the stealing of the body
and also alleges that the body was
subsequently returned TO representa-
tives Of Judge Hilton. u,rt
On Wednesday, November 7, 1878,
at 7 a. m, Frank Parker, the assistant
sexton OF ST.. Marks Church, at the
corner of Second avenue and Tenth
street, entered the adjoining grave.
yard and found that the Stewart tomb
had been broken into and the body of
its occupant removed. Ex-Judge
Henry Hilton and the police authori-
ties were immediately notified and de-
tectives set TO work. The vault was
in the centre of the yard, east of the
church, aud seemed, prior to the Dig
ging, to have been unmarked and con-
cealed from sight. An iron fence, ten
feet high, runs around the graveyard.
1t was entered by square hole in the
roof, from which descended twelve
stone steps to the bottom. This en-
trance was covered with three or four
inches of sod on level with the sur
rounding turf, entirely hiding Any sug-
gestion of an entrance. It looked at
first as if the sexton or his assistant
were implicated. This view found an
urgent and even bitter supporter in
Judge Hilton. fIt.
On the morning after the robbery
Judge Hilton offered reward of $25,-
600 for the return of the body aud for
information which would convict the
parties implicated in the outrage. The
inside history of the case from this
point is now told by Ex-Superintendent
Walling as fellows:
THE FIRST CLUE.
James Kealy was captain of detect.
ives at the time. The first clue came
from General Patrick Fl. Jones, ex
Postmaster of New York, who notified
Walling that an ex soldier who had
served under him claimed to know
something about the Stewart body
aud with proper encouragement would
| give information leading to its recov.
cry. The Superintendent submitted
the offer to Judge Hilton, who declar
ed he would never pay one cent fol
Mr.. Stewards bones, unless they came
accompanied by the thieves in irons
General Jones was persistent. He
showed letters from the thieves and q
few days later gave to the police
package expressed to him from Boston
containing a coffin plate which was
identified by the engraver who had
done the work.
To complete their identification the
robbers sent piece of paper that fit.
ted exactly the hole in the velvet cover
of the coffin. This is now in the hands
of Sexton Hamill, and the coffin plate
is at police headquarters. Judge Hill
ten remained unalterable, and the case
was dropped by the authorities. Mrs
Stewart strongly wished to recover the
body Learning this fact the robbers
opened correspondence with her direct
ly. In January, 1882, General Jones
brought to police headquarters the sil
yer knobs and sveral of the handles
belonging to the coffin. He also show
ed some letters which purported tc
have been written in Canada and were
signed by "Henry G. Romaine.' Will
the first letter hundred dollar bill
was enclosed as retainer for him Il
act as attorney for the return of thu
body upon the payment of $250,000
The letter went on to say:
NEGOTIATIONS BEGUN.
The remains were taken befor'
twelve o'clock on the night of the 6tl
and not at three o'clock on the morn
ing of the Tth of November. The,
were not taken away in carriage, bu
in grocer's wagon. They were no,
taken to any house near the graveyard
but to one near One Hundred and Six
tieth street. They were then incloset
in a zirc-lined trunk and left on al
early morning train. They went Il
Plattsburg and from there to the Dom
inion. There they were buried. Ex
cept that the eyes have disappeared
: the flesh is as firm and the features a
natural as the day Of interment, ant
can, therefore, be instantly identified
The enclosed piece of paper is exacll,
the size of the piece of velvet takel
from the coffin, while the small stri
sent you will prove to be of the sam
. piece as that on the coffin. If any ad
, ditional proofs are required the plat
will be sent you upon inserting the fol
loving personal in the New York He,
aid. "Canada-Send P.-Counsel.
; If you decline to act friend will cal
for the retainer sent you. When yo
, are satisfied that the relatives Of Mrs
Stewart will talk business insert tn
. following personal in the New Yor
{ Herald
-|CANApA-WILL DO BUSINESS
Then you will hear from me agair
HENRY G. RoMAINE,
USING THE NEwsPAPERs.
, The package with the articles name
arrived, and the first personal was il
serted. A reply came from Roman,
informing Jones that the package col
o tanning coffin plate had been sent b
4 express to avoid the publicity whic
a would follow examination by custoI
. officers. The coffin-plate arrived an
> the second personal was published. !
few days later Mr.. Jones wrote
Romaine agreeing to act as couus
" and saying that Judge Hilton WI
anxious to recover the remains. I'll
> reply which came from Boston on Il
!. 11th of February set forth the tern
= upon which the body would be resto
- ed.
They were as follows: First. TT
. amount to be paid shall be $4,000
Second. The body will be delivert
y to you yourself and Judge Hilton wit
~ in twenty live miles of the city of Mo
~ treal and no other person shall
4, present. Third. The money 10
= placed in your hands or under yo'
~ ~ control until Judge Hilton is fully IS